Pushing For More Aid: Rep. GT Thompson says farmers need more than the $12 billion in bridge payments

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson says that the upcoming bridge payments may not be enough to make farmers whole. He warns that producers will likely need a lot more than the $12 billion headed their way.

In an interview with AgriPulse, Thompson says that Congress will need to provide $10 billion more. This would be in addition to the $12 billion in bridge payments due in February, funded through tariffs, to address losses for row crop farmers.

Thompson says that other sectors need help too like dairy, timber, and specialty crops.

Related Stories
Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) cases are rising. In the last week, seven commercial turkey, duck, and egg layer flocks were culled across five Midwest states and California.
A SCOTUS ruling on Trump’s tariffs could have long-term implications on the authority of future administrations to control U.S. trade policy, according to RFD-TV legal expert Roger McEowen.
The Sheinbaum–Rollins meeting signals progress, but the focus remains on fully containing screwworm before cross-border movement resumes.
RaboResearch says China’s pivot from mass production to innovation-driven growth could reshape global pesticide supply chains — and influence prices and product access for U.S. farmers in the coming years.
Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Kuehl shares more about the tour to gather farmers’ insights on the economic challenges they face in the ag economy.